"Fatherland security" rejects LDK, says it has Kosovo president's "blessing"

Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 18 Jul 04 p 3

"Fatherland Security presidency, says it has 'President Rugova's blessing'", published by Kosovo Albanian newspaper Koha Ditore on 18 July.

Prishtina (Pristina), 17 July: Through a press release sent via email on Saturday (17 July), the organization calling itself Fatherland Security has rejected the recent claims of the Democratic League of Kosova (Kosovo) (LDK) that this organization does not exist and that the party in power has nothing to do with it.

"On this occasion, anonymous politicians, terrified out of fear of possible guilt, tried to close their eyes 'like the donkey before the wolf' and are praying that Fatherland Security is just a dream, while in many towns of Kosova the deserters were not seen in previous public places. They were seen with pale faces and it seems that some of their victims have become aware and have avoided them," reads "statement number 001, 17 July 2004" signed by "Colonel R. Miftari".

Following the publication of the Fatherland Security's second statement, in which LDK "deserters" Edita Tahiri (now chairwoman of the newly established Democratic Alternative of Kosovo (ADK)) and Edi Shukriu were threatened, the LDK presidency reacted, denying the existence of the organization and the LDK's connections with it.

"We believe that such statements aim at smearing the LDK's name, image and political culture; they have a certain political goal and they aim at destabilizing the processes on the verge of the national election," reads the LDK presidency's statement.

According to the Kosovar "CIA", it is absurd to ask ordinary members of the LDK about this organization.

"It is absurd and unprofessional if everyone inside the LDK or its presidency were to have access to Fatherland Security, because we are secret, whereas the LDK is public and all the people of Kosova are part of it. We oversee LDK activity, and not vice versa," reads Fatherland Security's statement.

They asserted that nobody has the right to deny them the right to protect independence, and, as said in the statement, also President (Ibrahim) Rugova.

"We have the blessing of Kosova President Ibrahim Rugova and we publicly swore before the grave of the hero of independent Kosova, Colonel Tahir Zemaj, and we were transparent only during his funeral. Our presence at this funeral terrified the leftist killers. We remind you that since our appearance, there have been no political killings in Kosova," reads the Fatherland Security statement.

Regarding Fatherland Security's claims that it has President Rugova's blessing, Koha Ditore tried to contact presidency spokesperson Muhamet Hamiti, but without any results. Even after the second statement issued on Tuesday, Koha Ditore asked for the Kosova presidency's position on this matter. The presidency requested us to send questions via email, but Koha Ditore has not received any responses so far.

Belgrade Media Update, July 23

Tadic on relations with US and Kosovo (FoNet)

Serbian President Boris Tadic has stated in Washington that strong partnership with the US is Serbia’s vital interest and that he had come to America to convey a very clear message – Serbia is ready to take its traditional and deserved place among western democracies. He added that the enemies of western values were present in Kosovo today, and in that context mentioned the violence against Kosovo Serbs in March, which was orchestrated by Albanian extremists who wished to achieve with arms the goal – independence of Kosovo. “Following the terrorist attack on 11 September, we must not allow for any form of orchestrated violence to be politically awarded, regardless of whether it is happenning in Manhattan, Madrid or Kosovo,” said Tadic. He requested that all responsible for the March violence to be brought to justice, advocated the restoring of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and underlined that, prior to resolving Kosovo’s final status, democratic standards had to be fulfilled, especially those that refer to the protection of minorities. Tadic stressed that Kosovo, according to UNSCR 1244, was Serbia’s integral part. “For me, as the President of Serbia, independence of Kosovo is unacceptable,” said Tadic. “If the Albanian leaders in Pristina think that someone in Belgrade will be for Kosovo’s independence, I tell them that this is unrealistic. I will do everything for the dialogue between Albanians and Serbs to commence, because Kosovo’s status can be resolved only through dialogue, a status that would suit all nations and in which all rights would be respected,” said Tadic.

Bot: Reconstruction of destroyed in March violence – priority (RTS)

Dutch Foreign Minister and the Presiding over the EU Ministerial Council Bernard Bot has stated in Pristina that the reconstruction of facilities destroyed during the March violence is a priority task in Kosovo, and that Kosovo may expect EU support.  It is in the interest of Kosovo Serbs to take part in the forthcoming elections in Kosovo, Bot said.

Rolf Ekeus: Kosovo requires constant attention (RSCG)

OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Rolf Ekeus expressed concern over the negative events in Kosovo, the consequences of which, as he said, might reflect on southern Serbia as well. Addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, Ekeus said that the riots in Kosovo in March had reminded the international community of the fact that the situation in Kosovo requires constant attention. He reminded that considerable progress had been made in the protection of minorities in SCG, especially in the implementation of laws on national minorities.

Covic requests UNMIK to ensure Serbs access to courts (RTS)

The Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic has requested UNMIK to undertake urgent measures towards enabling free access to Kosovo courts for IDPs who had filed applications for compensation of the damage of their property destroyed in Kosovo. In his letter addressed to Acting UNMIK Head Charles Brayshaw, Covic has underlined that due to lack of freedom of movement in Kosovo, IDPs and their representatives will not be able to realize their right to a fair trial, guaranteed by Article 6 of the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Basic Freedoms, unless UNMIK provides them with protection and escort, reads the statement.

New UNMIK funds for reconstruction of Orthodox Churches and monasteries (RTS)

Acting UNMIK Head Charles Brayshaw has announced that UNMIK set aside half a million euros for the reconstruction of Serbian Orthodox shrines. Previously, UNMIK offered extra aid worth million euros. Brayshaw concluded that reconstruction was the only important process for which there would be financial support in the following period, the statement reads.

UNMIK and KPS interrogated nurse Zivka Barac (Tanjug)

The Director of the healthcare center in Kosovo Polje, which was totally burned down during the March violence, Slavica Cankovic, confirmed to Tanjug that UNMIK police and KPS interrogated nurse Zivka Barac who lives in the YU program building in Pristina, where the ambulance is located. Zivka Barac, with four children and husband, returned to the apartment in the YU program building following the March violence and started working in the renovated ambulance. “The ambulance was once again demolished, and when Zivka went downstairs to see what was happenning, UNMIK police and KPS members interrogated her with the excuse of checking her identity and legitimacy of work,” Slavica Cankovic told Tanjug.

Some inhabitants of Svinjare took keys to renovated houses (Beta)

The Head of the Kosovo government commission for the reconstruction of facilities destroyed in March Minister Brajshori has given keys to owners of five of 30 renovated houses in the village of Svinjare, several kilometers south of Kosovska Mitrovica. The other 25 owners didn’t want to take the keys since they are requesting that all of their assissting facilities, destroyed on 17 and 18 March, be restored, Beta reports. Kosovo Minister Brajshori promised that a tender would be announced for the reconstruction of another 57 houses in Svinjare, while all other houses, 132 of them, would be restored by the end of October.

Kosovo plan on decentralization of municipalities (FoNet)

The Kosovo government will publish the project of forming several decentralized Serb municipalities and other communities, Belgium Ambassador to SCG Gori Luc Liebot said in Pristina in talks with KP AM Rada Trajkovic. He specified that, according to this plan, they would organize a pilot project for the Pristina municipality that envisages the establishing of the Serb decentralized municipality of Gracanica. According to this plan, decentralized municipalities would have bodies of authority that would be elected at the local elections by citizens, their budget and bodies of order. If the international community wants the Serbs to take part in the parliamentary elections in Kosovo, scheduled for 23 October, then one must recognize in their officials stands an open support to the Serbian government plan on decentralization, KP AM Rada Trajkovic told FoNet.

UNMIK announced all Fructal juices in order (Beta)

UNMIK’s Main Office for Agriculture has announced that all tested samples of Fructal juices in Kosovo are in accordance with EU standards on food safety. In a statement sent to Beta, it says that “all imported products of the Slovenian company Fructal are regularly controlled at border crossings in Kosovo, while UNMIK’s Main Office for Rural Issues and the Kosovo Ministry for Agriculture are regularly doing laboratory analyses of the taken samples.”

Ten more Philippine policemen to arrive in Kosovo (Tanjug)

The Philippines have sent ten more policemen who will join UNMIK police forces in Kosovo. As the spokesperson of the Interior Ministry Joel Goltiao announced in Manila, the additional ten policemen will join the unit of 80 Philippine colleagues who are already in Kosovo, DPA reported. “The UN had earlier requested us to send an additional group of policemen to Kosovo for the task of maintaining order and law, border control and other police duties, while some of them will also be working as instructors of the Kosovo local police forces,” said the Philippine police spokesperson.